Medical breakthrough in cancer research in Vienna

The international pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim operates one of its most important research centers in the field of oncology at its Vienna site. Here, new active ingredients and drugs are developed which have the potential to prolong and improve lives worldwide.

Boehringer Ingelheim's Cancer Research Centre in Vienna has achieved a significant breakthrough: the development of an active ingredient to treat an aggressive form of lung cancer that primarily affects women and non-smokers. 
This form of the disease was previously considered difficult to treat, but the new drug from Vienna represents a medical breakthrough and offers new hope. The active ingredient has already been approved in the US, China and Japan — a major milestone and success for Viennese research with international impact.

This success is down to a team of highly qualified experts, including Birgit Wilding, who conducts research at Boehringer Ingelheim in Vienna as an Associate Director in the Department of Medical Chemistry. Her work combines scientific excellence with international collaboration. Wilding emphasises Vienna's particular strengths as a location: 'Here we find ideal conditions for quickly translating scientific ideas into concrete therapeutic concepts — from basic research to clinical application.' Her research is a prime example of how Viennese expertise is driving global innovation.

Boehringer Ingelheim works in multidisciplinary teams of chemists, biologists, and data scientists to develop innovative medicines for humans and animals, focusing on various therapeutic areas, including oncology. 
The Vienna-based research team relies on modern methods such as AI-supported drug discovery, molecular analysis, and large-scale data evaluation. This not only allows them to identify more quickly how tumor cells function, but also how drugs can attack them precisely. The close integration of basic research and pharmaceutical technology is a key success factor.

Vienna offers ideal conditions for companies in the life sciences sector: a dense research landscape with renowned institutions such as the Vienna BioCenter, IMBA, CeMM, and the University of Vienna, excellently trained specialists, and strong networks between science and industry. This structure attracts international talent and enables collaborations that open up new avenues in biomedical research.

The economic environment is also a clear advantage: research grants, funding through organizations such as FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency) and aws (Austria Business Service) or the Vienna Business Agency, as well as specialized cluster initiatives such as LISAvienna, create a dynamic environment for innovation.

Boehringer Ingelheim continuously invests in its Vienna site, thereby contributing significantly to Vienna's positioning as a European hotspot for biomedical research - a place where science and business work hand in hand to rethink health.

Read more about the history, successes, and expansion projects of Boehringer Ingelheim in Vienna.